On the players’ off day at Cal State San Bernardino, UCLA’s football Bruins still made news when coach Jim Mora anointed redshirt freshman Brett Hundley as the team’s starting quarterback.

It was a move that seemed imminent the last few days. Hundley, ranked No. 3 nationally among prep quarterbacks in 2010 by Scout.com and SuperPrep after passing for 2,348 yards and 20 touchdowns (and scoring nine rushing touchdowns) as a senior at Chandler (Ariz.) High in 2010, seemed to have the inside track in the competition with seniors Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut.

“He’s just kind of unflappable,” Mora said the other day. “What you try to do in (these) drills is create situations, cause problems that they have to solve. When he makes a mistake or an error in judgment, by the time he gets to the sideline he knows exactly how he should have handled the situation, and he responds really, really well.

“Beyond that, he throws the ball well and throws it with accuracy, and makes good decisions. Then he’s got the X-factor, which is his legs. He can get out and go. So often in those two-minute drills, things kind of break down. A quarterback that has some mobility and can keep his eyes down the field, remain a threat as a passer and hold the defense off, that’s a real advantage.”

The Bruins return to the practice field at Cal State for two practices Saturday, at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.